8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 27, 2011

SANDERSON FARMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Mississippi	1-14977	64-0615843
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

127 Flynt Road Laurel, Mississippi	39443
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(601) 649-4030

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

     Check the appropriate box if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Section 5 — Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On April 27, 2011, Rowan H. Taylor, a member of the Registrant’s board of directors since 1989, notified the Registrant that he had determined to retire from the board of directors. Mr. Taylor’s retirement will be effective when his current term on the board expires at the Registrant’s 2012 annual meeting of stockholders, which is expected to be held on February 16, 2012. The press release announcing his retirement is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) The following exhibits are furnished with this Current Report:

Exhibit No.	Description
99	Press release of Sanderson Farms, Inc. dated May 3, 2011.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	SANDERSON FARMS, INC. (Registrant)
Date: May 3, 2011	By:	/s/ D. Michael Cockrell
		D. Michael Cockrell
		Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.	Description
99	Press release of Sanderson Farms, Inc. dated May 3, 2011.

EX-99

Exhibit 99

Contact:  Mike Cockrell
Treasurer & Chief Financial Officer
(601) 649-4030

SANDERSON FARMS ANNOUNCES
RETIREMENT OF BOARD MEMBER ROWAN H. TAYLOR

LAUREL, Miss. (May 3, 2011) — Sanderson Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: SAFM) today announced that Rowan H. Taylor has informed the Company that he will retire from the Company’s Board of Directors when his current term ends at the 2012 annual shareholders’ meeting.

     “Rowan Taylor joined Sanderson Farms’ Board of Directors in 1989 and is one of our longest serving members,” stated Joe F. Sanderson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Sanderson Farms, Inc. “He has been a valued advisor to Sanderson Farms for many years, and under his 23 years of leadership the company has experienced tremendous success and growth. Rowan knew the Company’s founders well, and embodied their spirit, principles and ethics in his leadership on our Board. We want to thank him for his service to Sanderson Farms and for his contributions to building long-term shareholder value. We will miss his good humor, keen business insight and the historical perspective he provided as a Board member. On a personal note, I will miss the wise counsel and advice he provided over the years and wish him a long and satisfying retirement.”

     Mr. Taylor previously served as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Mississippi Valley Title Insurance Company until his retirement in 1992. He also served as counsel to the Jackson, Mississippi law firm of Alston & Jones.

     Sanderson Farms, Inc. is engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh and frozen chicken and other prepared food items. Its shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SAFM.

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